Boeing and GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes have announced the carrier will purchase 60 737 MAX airplanes.

Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL plans to use the new super-efficient 737 MAX to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs.

The order is valued at approximately $6 billion at published list prices making it the largest order in GOL’s 12-year history and the largest airplane order from a single airline in South America’s aviation history.

“The decision to order Boeing 737 MAX is in line with our commitment to maintaining a modern and safe fleet that will allow us to sustain our competitive advantage in the long term,” said Paulo Kakinoff, chief executive of GOL.

“The new airplanes will have one of the best cost-benefit ratios in the market due to its unique operational economy, so it is fully compatible with our low-cost model.”

The 737 MAX builds on the strengths of Boeing’s best-selling Next-Generation 737 with big advances in fuel-efficiency and environmental performance.

“Boeing has partnered with GOL since their inception just over 12 years ago.

“We’ve watched them grow from a small start-up airline to a driving force in global aviation and we are proud to partner with them as the South American launch customer for the 737 MAX,” said Ray Conner, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“The unmatched operating economics of the 737 MAX make it the absolute best airplane for the world’s low-cost carriers and legacy carriers alike.

“And this is again proven today with GOL’s commitment to the MAX.”